Voters elected state Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex) to fill the state Senate seat Buono vacated to run for governor. Barnes had faced a tough and well-financed challenge by East Brunswick Mayor David Stahl, who had been a Democrat but switched parties to run for the seat.

State Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, who chairs the lower house’s education committee, also held on to his seat. East Brunswick Councilwoman Nancy Pinkin, a Democrat, has won the Assembly seat that had been occupied by Barnes. They beat Republicans Robert Bengivenga and Lisa Goldhamer.